Equipment for achieving runs on all types of snow-covered ground



R. LAMBERT April 14,1970

EQUIPMENT FOR ACHIEVING RUNS ON ALL TYPES OF SNOW-COVERED GROUND 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19, 1968 F 223: F g.3: FigBd Ffgf a F1295 R. LAMBERT April 14, 1 970 EQUIPMENT FOR ACHIEVING RUNS ON ALL TYPES OF SNOW-COVERED GROUND Filed Feb. 19, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent US. Cl. 28011.37 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pair of ski poles are provided with means to convert the ski poles to a riding device for use by a person using a pair of specially constructed snow skates. The snow skates each have a short broad flat under surface to which is attached an anti-slip blade having a rearwardly facing saw-tooth profile. Each ski pole has a handle at one end and a snow engaging spatula at the other end with both ski poles having cooperating means for coupling the ski poles together to form the riding device. The cooperating means may take the form of a hook or eyelet on one pole for engaging a stud on the other pole or one of the poles may be provided with an aperture for receiving a portion of the other ski pole.

The invention relates to skates, sticks and other nonmotorized devices making it possible to slide on snow or facilitating walking on snow-covered ground.

A wide variety of devices are currently being used for this purpose, such as snow-shoes, skates, skis and ski sticks, luges and others.

Certain more complex devices have been contrived so as to make it possible for unexperienced persons to go down snow-covered slopes. It has been suggested, for example, to associate with a pair of skis, a device making its movements integral and which comprises a seat making it possible for the user to achieve a descent in the sitting position. Other devices comprise two skates attached to the users shoes, two additional skates, and an elongated element, connecting the two additional skates, this elongated element being provided with a seat and with a steering control member.

Each one of these complex devices constitutes a relatively heavy assembly which, in particular, is practically unusable in autonomous ascension and on flat ground or can only be used with great difiiculty. In the final analysis there does not exist, to applicants knowledge, any device which makes it possible, conveniently to descend slopes in the sitting position, to walk or skate on flat ground and to ascend slopes in an autonomous fashion through the sole use of the component elements of the device. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide polyvalent equipment, capable of achieving all of the functions referred to above, employing simple and easily usable means, the switch from one function to the other being made easily.

According to the invention, this equipment comprises two skates provided with means for attachment to the users shoes and two sticks, and is mainly characterized in that at least one of said sticks comprises a plane surface portion capable of acting as a sliding surface, in that at least one of said sticks comprises means for attaching a seat thereto, said sticks being provided with means for temporarily attaching one stick with the other and in that said sticks end up at one of their extremities in a turned up spatula and at the other of their extremities in a part adapted for being easily held in the hand.

According to a preferred embodiment, the skates, which are identical, are shorter than normal skis, and have one 3,506,279 Patented Apr. 14, 1970 ice extremity, forming a spatula, simultaneously curved and of a width of substantially of the same order than the width of one the users shoes, said shoes being normally fastened to the skate by any known convenient means, within the curved part of the skate which leads into the spatula, the lower face of the skate being provided over the greater part of its curved extremity with an antiskidding device.

The invention will be better understood as a result of the following description.

In the attached drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a skate according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGUREZ is a plan view of a skate according to a variation;

FIGURES 3a to 3d show a front (FIGURES 3a to 30) and plan (FIGURES 3b to 3d) view of the two sticks;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a strap that can be used with the device to provide a back band;

FIGURES 5a, 5b, and 50 represent a variation of the means for attaching the sticks together on top of each other;

FIGURE 6 shows the user achieving a descent in the sitting position, by means of such equipment;

FIGURE 7 shows the user moving on flat ground;

FIGURE 8 illustrates ascending motion;

FIGURES 9a and 9b show, respectively, a plan and front view of an alternative embodiment of the sticks;

FIGURE 10 shows, in perspective, the assembly, according to this alternative, consisting of the two sticks made integral for the purpose of achieving a descent.

Both skates, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 1, are obviously symmetrical with respect to each other; their length is, inferior to that of conventional skis. They comprise a plane part 1, making up the rear of the skate, lengthened by a smoothly curved part 2, forming, in the front, a substantially curved spatula. The users shoe 3 is fastened to the skate on the smoothly curved part of the spatula, with the possibility for said part of displaying, in this area, on its upper face, a plane part 4, particularly appropriate for fastening a ski shoe; the spatula comprises, at the place provided for fastening the users shoe, at width substantially of the same order as that of said shoe, which shoe is fastened to the skate by any known convenient means, such as a stirrup 5 or any other type of fastening used on skis. On the lower part of the skate, along its longitudinal axis and over a length approximately one and a half times the length of the users shoe, is placed a thin blade 6, provided with saw-teeth 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 62, 6 6g, oriented towards the rear of the skate.

This thin blade, about 1 to 2 mm. thick, originates preferably at the level of the heel of the shoe and goes towards the front of the skate in the direction of the tip of the spatula. This blade is fastened to the skate by any appropriate means, said means being, however, necessarily such that they do not form any projection beneath the lower face of the skate. The height of blade 6 is preferably a maximum at the level of the shoe tip and progressively decreases towards the rear and towards the front. The width of the skate generally decreases from front to rear, but in certain variations, particularly, in short skates, the width may be constant; the skates may be provided with reinforcing cross-sections on their edges. The thin blade 6 acts as an anti-skidding device, ensures stabilization of the skate and gives it possibilities for steering and braking.

FIGURE 2 shows, as a plan and underpart view, a varying embodiment of a skate in which the anti-skidding element consists of a plush -7, placed below the forward part of said skate and maintained in place by tightening using cross-sections 8. In this case, stabilization of the skate is achieved by a median longitudinal groove 9 cut into the rear part of the skate.

FIGURES 3a and 3d show a varying embodiment of the two sticks or ski poles comprising a part of the equip ment. FIGURES 3a and 3b correspond to the stick termed sliding stick and show said stick as a front and plan view, respectively, while FIGURES 3c and 3d correspond to the stick termed carrying stick and represent said stick as a front and plan view, respectively.

These two sticks are generally of the same length, said length being slightly superior to users height. The sliding stick consists of a body 10 shaped as a lath whose thickness is generally of the same order of magnitude as that of a ski, the width thereof being generally smaller than that of a ski. The sliding stick ends up at one of its extremities in a spatula 11 of comparatively pronounced curvature, with a width preferably higher than that of body 10 and, at the other of its extremities in a reinforced part forming a handle 12 that can easily be held in the hand.

The extremity of spatula 11, generally cut in bevelledshaped form, may be enclosed in a semi-rigid protective case 13. The lower face of the sliding stick is perfectly smooth so as to slide easily on snow. On the upper face of the sliding stick, near the center of gravity of said stick, is fastened a hooking device consisting of a stirrup .14 comprising two flanges 15 directed in a parallel direction with the longitudinal axis of the sliding stick and between which is placed, in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of the sliding stick, an axis 16. Said axis 16 is arranged so as to leave a certain space between its body and upper face of the sliding stick. The carrier stick consists of a body 17 shaped as a rod, of rectangular section, ending at one of its extremities as a metallic hook 18 and at the other of its extermities which forms a handle, as a spatula 19 of comparatively pronounced curvature and width which is approximately equal to the width of spatula 11 of the sliding stick. The extremity of said spatula 19, generally cut in bevelledshaped form, may be enclosed in a semi-rigid protective case 20.

In the immediate vicinity of the extremity provided With hook 18, a sliding and locking sleeve 21 is arranged around the carrier stick, supporting a frame 22a on which are stretched ropes or straps 22b forming a seat for the user. Finally, a hook 24 is attached, through a collar 23, onto body 17 of carrier stick, in the vicinity of the origin of spatula 19, on the same side of said carrier stick as the point of the spatula.

FIGURE 4 shows a device which may provide, during the descent, a support for the user. This device comprises a strap 25, of a certain width, provided at each of its extremities with an iron fitting 26a comprising an eyelet 26b. A thread 27 is attached to each of eyelets 26b, for example, made of nylon, ending up at the other of its extremities as a loop 28. The strap may advantageously be permanently attached on the users garment in the form of a half-belt, threads 27 being rolled up and placed in the pockets of said garment.

FIGURES a and 5b show a variation of the device for hooking the two sticks onto each other. This device, obtained according to FIGURES 3a and 3d using hook 18, fastened to one of the extremities of the carrier stick (FIGURES 3c and 3d), and stirrup 14 supporting axis 16 (FIGURE 3a and 3b) consists, according to FIG- URES 5a and 5b, of a book 29 placed on the sliding stick 30 and of an axis 32 set out on carrier stick 32. Hook 29 consists of a metal blade, fastened onto sliding stick 30 by any appropriate means, set out along the longitudinal axis of said sliding stick and comprising a groove 33 leading to receptacle 34. Axis 32 is set out in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of carrier stick 32, in the vicinity of its extremity; it is embedded in the mass of said carrier stick which comprises, furthermore, over a short distance from its extremity, a

notch 35 directed along its axis, so that the combination of this notch 35 and axis 32 forms an eyelet which may fasten onto hook 29.

The extremity of carrier stick 32, provided with axis 31, is curved and may have a relatively sizeable width so as to make it possible to function as a seat for the user.

FIGURE 50 shows sliding stick 30 and carrier stick 32 may be integral with each other using hook 29 and axis 31.

FIGURE 6 shows the use of a device for achieving a descent in the sitting position. The user begins by interlocking carrier stick 36 with sliding stick 37, laid down flat on the snow, using the devices provided for this purpose on said sticks, for example, by employing the device described in FIGURES 3a to 3d, includingthe carrier stick towards the rear while fitting hook 38, fastened to the extremity of carrier stick 35, into the eyelet consisting of stirrup 39 and axis 40, fastened onto this sliding stick 37, and then pulling back the carrier stick towards the front.

The user, whose feet are provided with skates 41, then sits down in seat 42, fastened to carrier stick 36 and while holding said carrier stick 35 in his hands, launches himself forward into the slope, in a facing or skewed position while overlapping the device and guiding himself through use of skates 41 and at the same time, imparting with his body the lateral movements, which eventually are necessary to move according to his wishes, to carrier stick 36 which transmits them to sliding stick 37. The hinged connection 39-40 enables the carrier stick to oscillate, which provides flexibility of the device in use.

The transmission of movements from the carrier stick to the sliding stick is provided by the fact that the extremity of the sliding stick is tightly grasped, over a certain length, between flanges 15 and stirrup 14 (FIGURES 3b and 3c). In order to obtain more comfort, the user may also pass a strap 43 around his hips of the type described in FIGURE 4, whose extremities are connected by lines 44 to a hook 45 fastened onto this carrier stick. During this descent, the skates are applied in a fiat position against the snow, the spatula is raised upwards, so that the blades placed beneath the skates only play a stabilizing, guiding or braking function, whereas the engagement of the rear part of the skates enables them to slide. FIGURE 7 shows the user moving on flat ground using skates 46 in order to walk or slide on the snow while dragging behind him carrier stick 47 and carrier stick 48, the spatulas being directed towards the side opposite the snow, so that the gliding surface thereof be added to that of the skates.

FIGURE 8 shows the user performing an ascension using skates 49 to move forward in a facing or skewed position with respect to the slope using, to assist him in pushing himself while walking, sliding stick 50 and carrier stick 51, whose spatulas are, this time, directed towards the snow, into which they dig in, thus providing them with fulcrum.

In this ascending movement, the body of the user is brought forward so that he automatically walks mainly on the anti-skidding curved part of the skates.

FIGURES 9a and 9b show respectively, as a plan and front view, a varying embodiment of the sticks.

According to this variation, each stick comprises a body consisting, along its length, of three successive parts, the first one being of small width so as to form a handle 52, the second one being of larger width so as to form the body 53 itself of the stick and the third one being still wider which forms the forward tip 54 of said stick. This forward tip is, at its extremity, highly raised so as to form a spatula 55.

One of the two sticks comprises, in addition, in its body, a rectangular hole 56 located at the beginning of the curved part of the spatula whose function will be explained in FIGURE 10. On this very same stick, the

possibility has been provided for fastening, by any appropriate means, a tube of square section 57, comprising at its base, a rectangular opening having slightly larger dimensions than those of the body of the stick. A blocking device, of the butterfly nut or similar type 58 is set out on the side of tube 57, which when screwed, will block any part which slides inside said tube. A collar 59 is set out on the extremity of tube 57, which is capable of sliding on said tube 57 and of being made integral with said tube by any appropriate blocking means, not shown in the figure.

A tube 60 is fastened onto collar 59, forming the framework of a seat comprising two axial handles 61, between which ropes or straps 62 and two lateral handles 63 are stretched.

FIGURE shows, in perspective, the assembly consisting of two sticks according to FIGURES 9a and 9b made integral with each other in order to achieve a descent. Stick 64, whose spatula is provided with an orifice 65, such as described in reference 56 of FIGURE 9a, and which holds a seat such as described in references 57 to 63 in FIGURES 9a and 9b, is laid down fiat on the snow and the second stick 66 is introduced, through its extremity opposite to the spatula, into orifice 65, and slid onto stick 64 so that its extremity penetrates inside tube 57. The tightening device 58 (FIGURE 9b) provided on tube 57 makes it possible once the desired gliding surface has been obtained, to block stick 66 which becomes integral with stick 64. The user whose feet are equipped with skates of the type described in FIGURE 1 or 2 then overlaps the two-stick assembly while sitting in the seat consisting of ropes or straps 62 while hold ing onto handle 61 or 63. The other methods of use of the sticks according to this variation, moving on flat ground, ascension of slopes, are identical with the preceding case.

It is to be understood that numerous variations may be introduced by those skilled in the art into the various embodiments described above without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In particular, the seat provided on the carrier stick may be made in a wide variety of ways and may even be'of the folding type so as to facilitate the transportation or use of the sticks.

The carrier stick may comprise in the middle part of its length, means for securing the half thereof which includes the spatula, in a folded position along the other half. Then, when the carrier stick will be hinged on the other stick in view of effecting a descent, the spatula of the carrier stick will be used as a seat and the carrier stick, thus folded, will be quite short, which will improve the security. Of course, no detachable seat will be provided in this modification.

What is claimed is:

1. An equipment designed to move on snow and comprising two skates provided with fastening means for attachment to the users shoes and a pair of ski poles adapted to be converted when connected to each other, to a riding device for a skier, at least one of said ski poles having a plane sliding surface portion, seating means on at least one of said ski poles and means temporarily connecting one ski pole to the other, each of said ski poles being formed at one end as a spatula, said seating means being so located With respect to said ski poles that the skier may sit on said seating means straddling said ski poles with the latter supporting substantially all of his weight while he uses said skates for maintaining equilibrium and for braking.

2. .-An equipment according to claim 1, in which each of the skates has a curved front part having a curved lower surface and a rear flat part having a flat lower surface, said front part including first and second longitudinal portions, said first portion having a substantially plane upper surface adapted for receiving the users shoe, said fastening means being adapted for attaching the said shoe on said plane upper surface, said second portion being shaped as a spatula, and anti-skidding means attached to said curved lower surface, said flat lower surface being adapted to slide on the snow while the spatula is raised upwards.

3. An equipment according to claim 2, in which the anti-skidding means consist of a rigid blade having an edge which is cut out in the form of saw-teeth, said sawteeth being oriented towards the rear of the skate, said skate having a longitudinal axis of symmetry, said blade being secured along the said longitudinal axis to said first portion and having a profile, the height of which is decreasing from the middle part towards the ends of said blade.

4. An equipment according to claim 1, including a carrier ski pole provided with said seating means and a sliding ski pole provided with said sliding surface portion and with an upper surface portion, in which the means for temporarily connecting one ski pole to the other'essentially consist of a stud secured to the carrier ski pole and an eyelet co-operating with said stud, said eyelet being secured to the said upper surface portion, whereby the carrier ski pole is mounted for oscillatory motion about the said stud.

5. An equipment according to claim 1 in which a first one of the ski poles has an upper surface and a lower sliding surface and comprises, at the base of its spatula, an orifice adapted for introduction therethrough of a second one of said ski poles, the second ski pole having a lower sliding surface which is engaged on the upper surface of the first ski pole, and means mounted on the first ski pole for blocking the second ski pole when it has been introduced over a certain length through the said orifice whereby the lower gliding surfaces of the two ski poles together form an integral sliding surface, said blocking means including a tubular member adapted for introduction of the first ski pole therethrough, and tightening means, mounted on said tubular member, for clamping the second ski pole on the first ski pole and supporting means for said seating means, said supporting means being slidably mounted on said tubular member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,027,388 1/1936 Larkin 2801 1.39 2,148,644 2/1939 Riefschnider 2801 1.39 2,203,909 6/1940 Insam 28012 2,781,200 2/1957 Robison 2801l.39 2,783,052 2/1957 Wall 28020 FOREIGN PATENTS 147,216 10/1936 Austria.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner M. L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner 

